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The U.S. Constitution doesn't stipulate that citizens stand in long lines before they exercise their right to vote, but Virginia lawmakers can't seem to shake the notion that it does.
This year, the General Assembly again killed legislation that would enable registered voters to cast their ballots in person before Election Day if they wish.
The procedure, known as "no excuse" voting, has been adopted in 32 states, including North Carolina. It's popular with voters, and it's popular with voter registrars. But it's not popular with Richmond's vanguards of democracy.
Two early-voting measures were tabled on voice votes by House subcommittees in recent weeks. One of the proposals was designed to make voting more convenient for senior citizens, but even they couldn't catch a break.
In Virginia, voters who wish to cast ballots early must meet one of 17 qualifications. It's a convoluted process that tempts voters to bend the truth about the length of their workday and commuting time (a minimum of 11 hours) or other criteria in order to qualify to vote before Election Day.
Other states skip the Rube Goldberg test, and that has worked well. If voters want to vote early, they can. As a result, these states don't need to spend as much money on machines or on staffing polling places on Election Day. Workplaces also benefit from increased productivity because employees don't have to spend time standing in line.
And, of course, early voting encourages voting - the sort of thing that democracies ordinarily embrace.
Critics contend that early voting invites fraud. But they have yet to prove any such thing. It's difficult to picture how a not-so-crowded polling place the Saturday before Election Day is any more suspectible to voter mischief than a crowded polling place on Election Day.
Others argue that people who vote at times more convenient to their schedules are probably indolent and uninformed. But there's nothing inherently virtuous about standing in long lines on a cold, drizzly day to vote; mostly, it means the state legislature is too indolent and uninformed to adopt a more efficient voting process.
At this point, it appears someone is going to have to produce a handwritten note from James Madison - preferrably doppled with raindrops - to convince the General Assembly that it's OK to make voting more accessible. Until then, Virginians will have to wait in line, rain or shine.
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no suprise
Any idea that would make voting a less complicated process, and may lead to increase turnout, republicans are always against. Republicans always want to keep turnout low, confusion high, and as difficult as possible.
Why bother even voting? Just "DEEM."
Can't we just follow the example of the House of Representatives and simply "DEEM" who should be elected, thus saving us the bother and commitment of voting?
"Voting" is so yesterday.
Really?
Did you complain when Tom Delay and republicans did it to push through Bush's agenda? I didn't think so.
The equitable solution
to this voting problem is to allow a week to vote, say the first week in November.
Allow early voting to revert to the purpose of absentee voting: military, travel or other compelling reasons for not being in your district during that week.
This insanity of only one day, from 6-6 encourages lack of participation since a lot of people work long days or are restricted by weather, transportation, etc.
But, of course, the least flexible voters are the wage earners, shift workers, people with multiple low wage jobs or the poor with transportation or disability issues.
And we all "know" how they vote (wink, wink). So if we can only keep it difficult for them perhaps we can get a few more of, you know, the right kind of politicians…the "real" Americans.
Early voting means more expensive campaigns.
Imagine you're a city council candidate or a school board candidate. You've raised enough money for a few expensive Virginian-Pilot ads. When do you run them? 45 days prior to election day with early voting?
How about the person who votes early, and then the Virginian-Pilot reveals that the candidate has financial or personal issues that make them unfit for office? Those voters can't go back and change their votes, even though election day may be weeks away.
Sure,if you're the incumbent and you have all the campaign funds in the world, no big deal. But if you're not, early voting just creates another high wall you have to climb.